COORDINATED SCIENCE
0654 BIOLOGY
B1& B2 CHARACTERISTICS OF LIVING ORGANISMS & CELLS
Supplement
B1 Characteristics of living organisms
Define the terms:
– movement as an action by an organism or
part of an organism causing a change of
position or place
– respiration as the chemical reactions in
cells that break down nutrient molecules
and release energy for metabolism
– sensitivity as the ability to detect or
sense stimuli in the internal or external
environment and to make appropriate
responses
– growth as a permanent increase in size and
dry mass by an increase in cell number or
cell size or both
– excretion as removal from organisms of the
waste products of metabolism (chemical
reactions in cells including respiration), toxic
materials, and substances in excess of
requirements
– nutrition as taking in of materials for
energy, growth and development; plants
require light, carbon dioxide, water and
ions; animals need organic compounds and
ions and usually need water
B2 Cells
B2.1 Cell Structure
4 Relate the structure of the following to their
functions:
– ciliated cells – movement of mucus in the
trachea and bronchi
– root hair cells – absorption
– palisade mesophyll cells – photosynthesis
– red blood cells – transport of oxygen
– sperm and egg cells – reproduction
B2.2 Movement in and out of cells
5. Investigate the factors that influence diffusion, limited to
surface area, temperature, concentration gradients and
diffusion distance
6. Define osmosis as the net movement of water molecules
from a region of higher water potential (dilute solution) to a
region of lower water potential (concentrated solution),
through a partially permeable membrane
7. Explain the effects on plant tissues of immersing them in
solutions of different concentrations by using the terms turgid,
turgor pressure, plasmolysis and flaccid
8. Explain the importance of water potential and osmosis in
the uptake of water by plants
10 Explain the importance of water potential and osmosis on
animal cells and tissues
Structures: Basics

Cytoplasm is found inside the cell and contains all the other cell structures

• The large nucleus is surrounded by a nuclear membrane to separate it from the cytoplasm

• The cell membrane surrounds the cell

• The cell wall is made of cellulose and surrounds the cell membrane in plant cells

• Chloroplasts are organelles found in the cytoplasm that are packed with the pigment

chlorophyll and so are green in colour

• Vacuoles are large vesicles that take up a large part of the interior of plant cells

EXTENDED ONLY

Within the cytoplasm, the following organelles are visible in almost all cells except prokaryotes when looking at
higher magnification (ie using an electron microscope):

• Mitochondria (singular: mitochondrion) are organelles found throughout the cytoplasm • Ribosomes are tiny
structures that can be free within the cytoplasm or attached to a system of membranes within the cell known as
Endoplasmic Reticulum

• Endoplasmic reticulum studded with ribosomes looks rough under the microscope; this gives rise to its name
of Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (often shortened to R.E.R.)

• Vesicles can also be seen using a higher magnification – these are small circular structures found moving
throughout the cytoplasm Structures in an animal cell visible under a light microscope and an electron
microscope

2.1 CELL STRUCTURE & ORGANISATION

Functions-Basics

Adaptation of specialised cells

Specialised cells are those which have developed certain characteristics in order to perform particular functions.
These differences are controlled by genes in the nucleus

• Cells specialise by undergoing differentiation: this is a process by which cells develop the structure and
characteristics needed to be able to carry out their functions

Examples of specialised cells in animals

Examples of specialised cells in plants:

Diagrams of specialised cells in animals:

Diagrams of specialised cells in plants:
Cells, Tissues, Organs & Organ Systems
 Size of specimen

Calculating magnification and specimen size using millimetres as units

• Magnification is calculated using the following equation:

Rearranging the equation to find things other than the magnification becomes easy when you remember the
triangle - whatever you are trying to find, place your finger over it
and whatever is left is what you do, so:
• Magnification = image size / actual size
• Actual size = image size / magnification
• Image size = magnification x actual size
• Remember magnification does not have any units and is just written as
‘x 10’ or ‘x 5000

Let’s look at an example:

An image of an animal cell is 30 mm in size and it has been magnified

by a factor of x 3000.

What is the actual size of the cell?

To find the actual size of the cell:

Exit Task
MCQ

1. Phototropism demonstrates which two characteristics of living organisms?

A growth and nutrition

B growth and sensitivity

C movement and nutrition

D nutrition and sensitivity

2. The table shows the scientific names and the common names of four plants

Which word in their names shows that two of the plants share the greatest number of features?

A marsh
B palustris
C Viola
D violet

3. The equation shows a chemical reaction that occurs in living organisms.

glucose + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water

Which of these characteristics of living organisms is this equation associated with?

4. The diagram shows a leaf.

5. The list shows the scientific names for eight animals, using the binomial system.
6. Some lizards detach their tails when threatened by a predator.

Which characteristic is shown?

A excretion
B growth
C reproduction
D sensitivity

7.
8.

9. The diagram shows some animal cells, as seen under the microscope.

10. The diagram shows a spongy mesophyll cell.